British pubs facing ‘acute’ staff shortages

A member of staff serves drinks in a beer garden at a UK pub as they start to reopen - Credit: PA

British pubs are facing an “acute” shortage of staff, leading some to reduce capacity or close entirely, the sector has warned.

Labour-intensive social distancing restrictions such as table service only are requiring more staff, while employees are finding the work physically demanding with some walking up to 15 miles a day on the job, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said.

Shortages had been intensified by some EU nationals not returning to the UK and a loss of furloughed staff who had moved away from the uncertainty surrounding the hospitality sector.

The BBPA has written to employment minister Mims Davies calling on the government to urgently do what it can to help the sector.

It is of “paramount importance” that the Government sticks to removing restrictions on June 21 in order to show returning and prospective pub and hospitality staff that the sector is a safe and stable employer, it said.

It has also urged the government to expand the Youth Mobility Scheme to cover more nations and provide a more flexible approach to immigration by reviewing the shortage occupation list, to help support pub and hospitality staffing needs for the long term.

The trade association has launched its “Countdown to Freedom” campaign ahead of June 21, highlighting the cost and impact the remaining restrictions continue to have on the sector.

BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “Our pubs face a serious staffing shortage that has become acute.

“In some instances pubs are having to reduce capacity or close entirely because they do not have the staff to open.

“This is a major concern for our sector as it is hindering its recovery after lockdown.

“At our heart we are a people business and we need good people to provide the best hospitality.

“Even before the crisis, pubs in some areas were struggling to find the staff with the skills they need, particularly chefs and kitchen staff.

“As they reopen and begin their recovery, some have found staff have either moved away or found jobs in other sectors.

“To show our pubs are back open for good and are a stable career choice, it is imperative the government sticks to the road map and removes all restrictions on June 21.

“It remains the case that pubs and hospitality are a great career and you can go from bar staff to managing a pub very quickly.

“We just need the government to confirm this by removing all restrictions on June 21.”

This week the boss of pub chain JD Wetherspoon, Tim Martin, denied reports that his pubs have been hit by staff shortages due to Brexit.

On Tuesday, the Telegraph published a story titled “Wetherspoons boss calls for more EU migration as bars and restaurants tackle staff shortage”, with other hospitality operators also highlighting staffing concerns as the recent reopening resulted in a surge in customer demand.

Trade group UK Hospitality has said that staffing has been a challenge, with Brexit adding to this issue as many EU workers returned to the continent.